MANNED SOYUZ-TMA LAUNCHES FROM THE EUROPEAN SPACEPORT

摘要

The establishment of a Soyuz-TMA launch capability from the European Spaceport (CSG) in French Guiana, in complement to the on-going development of launch facilities for the commercial Soyuz ST vehicle, has been studied. Besides offering a redundant launch capability in support to the ISS operations, this option would allow European industrial teams to familiarize themselves with the preparation, check-out and launch operations of a human spacecraft. Since 2003 initial studies have been conducted for ESA by EADS SPACE Transportation with the support of Dassault Aviation, focussing on the required ground infrastructure adaptations, including synergy with the commercial launcher operations, as well as on the analysis of abort modes and crew recovery. The existing infrastructure would offer considerable opportunities for adaptation and reuse, although some dedicated facilities would need to be developed for the capsule integration and check-out, such as a large vacuum chamber, a GNC test stand, launch escape system integration facility and high grade hydrogen peroxide storage and loading station. Particular care should be placed in the adaptation of the crew escape system to the CSG environment, rich in vegetation and swamps. Moreover a crew recovery scenario in the Atlantic Ocean was developed on the basis of Falcon maritime surveillance aircraft. Moreover some telemetry adaptations (different standards) and a mobile ground station would be required to follow up the launch phase. The required adaptations of the available infrastructure are well within the technology capabilities of CSG.